Machine for rounding splints



w.-w; TAINTER. MACHINE FOR ROUNDING SPLINTS.

APPLICATION F ILED OCT. 6. I919.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

-a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INvENmY ATTVS.

W. W. TAINTER.

MACHINE FOR ROUNDINQ SPLINT5. APPLICATION mm ocr, 6, 1919.'

Patented Jan. 18, 19 21.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTVS- UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE,

WILLIS W. TAINTER, F DIXFIELD, MAINE,

Macrame non nonnnme srLrN'rs.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIs \v Tam'rnn,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Diniield, county 01 Oxford, State or; Maine, have invented a certain new. and useful Im provement in Machines for Bounding Splints, 01" which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accoinpan ing drawings. y

The invention relates to an improvement in machines for rounding splints, being espe;' cially intended for application to a machine for rounding toothpick splints, but it is un-I derstood that the invention is applicable to machines for rounding splints empldyed tor any other use; for instance, skewers, dowels,

match splints or any other [kind-0t wood splints which when first formed are 01 an-1 gular shape in cross-section. and require to u be rounded either into circular form in crossat the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 11s a plan View,

partly broken away, of: a machine embodyinp; my invention. a

F 1g. 21's a vertlcal section on hne 2-2 of his. 1. i i

' Fi 3 is a vertical section to show more in detait the presser mechanism for pressing the toothp cks 1n the "holder against the grinding; wheel.

1 is a detail View showingthe deliv ery chute in relation to the toothpick holder. Fig.5 ]S a View showing a modified form of extracting mechanism.

Inasmuch as it is not necessary that the splints shall tra've'lthe entire circuit of the carrier, there isv ample room for two sets of chutes and presser. mechanisms in connection w *ith the same machine, thus doublingthe capacity oi the machine. Thedrawings show the duplex form of apparatus, being pro vided with two feed chutes, two sets of presser rolls and two sets of dischargeldevices, as ,Wlll be seen 1n 1 1g. 1. A description oi: one setanswers for both.

liieferring nowto the drawings, 1 repre- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 18, 1921. Application fiat dctober e, 1919. Serial so. seasick.

the bed plate which is preferably of circularform' mounted on any suitable support (not shown). Secured to the underside of the bed plate is-a bracket 3 which is provided on its under side in the middie thereof with 'a'stationary hub 1 througl'i which extends a vertical shaft 5, Said shaft 5 is journaled at its upper end in a bearing Sand at its lower end it is provided with a thrust bearing oil. any suitable form. In

the form shown, this thrust bearing consists of aflange shell 7 secured to the lower end oi the shaft 5, wliichcooperateswith a flange shell 8 mounted on the upper end of a screw: threaded stem 9 which is threaded through a tapped ont sleeve 10 rigidly secured to tl e under side of the hub 4. The, two members 7 and 8 are channeled out to'receive the ball bearings 11. Thescrew Q lSPIOVlClECl with a handle 12 whereby it may be turned to raise or lower it to adjustthe thrust bearing for the shaft 5 up or down. I i The hearing (3 is supported by a bracket arm 56 which extends diametrically over the top of the grinder wheeland carrierand has downwardly extending legs which are supportedon the bed plate 1.

Mounted on theshait 5 is a grinding wheel 13 prel'erably oi emery. The shaft 5 is.

screw-th'readedfor a portion of its length, as shown at 1%. There are also provided the twoplates 15 and 16 which are srewed onto the shaftjl i, one being above the grinding wheel113 andthe other being on the under side of the grinding wheel 13 tosteady the grinding wheel and keep it from becoming loose on the shaft. These plates which are substantially cylindrical nuts are set up to firmly bear against the upper and lower faces of the grinding wheel.

'hlounted fasten the shaft 5 is a driving pulley 17 connected in any 1 suitable way with the driying mechanism for rotating the shaft at anyspeed desired. The shaft may,

however, be driven by any other suitable in ans, the particular method not being 1mportant.

A cyindrical shell 18 has base portion 19 which is co-axial with the grinding wheel 13 and formed with a hub20 through which the shait 5 passes loosely. The base portion 19 I bears on thebed plate 1, and in order to avoid the friction which would result if the entire surface was in contact, the base 19 ofing the shell 18 may be employed.

Mounted on the upper side of the flange rim of the shell 18 1s a splint carrier consisting of a ring 25 which 1s secured by screws-2 to the shell 18 so as to rotate there- With. This ring ies just above the upper surface of the grinding wheel 13 and is provided with aseries of splint-holding slots or pockets 26, which extend in a radial direction transversely of the ring 25. Each of these slots is of sufficient length to receive one of the splints which is to be ground, and extends vertically through the ring 25, that is the slots are open at top and bottom so that when a splint is inserted in a slot, it will rest upon the surface of the grinding wheel 13 and ride on the grinding wheel.

The driving mechanisms for the grinding wheel and for the splint-holding ring-.25 are so adjusted and connected that the grinding wheel and the splint-holding ring will rotate in opposite directions to each other..

If the machine is to be adapted for use in rounding double pointed toothpick splints, the grinding wheel will preferably have the grinding surface 2'7 concaved in a radial direction in that portion of its surface which engages the splint beneath the; splint-holder ring 25, asshowni'n Fig. 2, the concave form .being of corresponding contour to the lengthwise contour of the finished toothpick.

'The splints are delivered to the pockets of the rotary splint carrier through a chute 28, the chute 28 being of a width substantially equal to the length of the splint or a trifle more,'so that thesplintswill slide down the chutesbroadside and be thence carried onto the upper side of the splint carrier ring 25 and the splints will fall into the pockets 26. The chute 28 is preferably provided with an apron 29, at its lower end onto which the Y splints drop through the lower end of the pockets of the splint carrier. These fingers hold the. splintsfat first out ofjcontactwith the grinding wheel and at a suflicient elevation so that the pocket will not retain one splint on top of another.

Mounted above the apron fingers at an elevation slightly above the path of the splint carrier is a doctor roll 37, which is rotatable and formed with a knurled periphery. It is made to rotate in the reverse direction to the direction of travel of the splint carrier, and extends down low enough so that if by chance any splints are piled up or riding one on top of another, the doctor roll will engage the uppermost splint and throw it out of the way.

Amy suitable means for rotating the doctor roll may be employed, the means shown being as follows Mounted on the shaft of the doctor roll is a bevel gear 38 which engages with a bevel gear 39 on the vertical stud shaft 40 journaled in a bracket 41. The bracket 41 is supported by the arm 56. The lower end of said shaft 40 carries a spur gear or pinion 42 which engages with a large spur gear 43 connected with or forming part of the cylindrical shell 18.

The carrier ring 25 and the grinding wheel 13 are made to rotate in opposite directions to each other, preferably the grinding wheel being made to rotate at a much greater speed than the carrier ring. The grinding operation need take place only during a "cry small portion of the travel of the splint in the carrier.

It is important that positive means be employed to rotate the splints on their axis during the grinding operation. Means provided for rotating the splints are as follows A rotary presser wheel 44 is mounted on a rotary shaft 45, said presser wheel being mounted so that its periphery will extend down into the middle groove 34 of the three grooves in the partitions 36 between the. pockets of the splint carrier. The said wheel is adjusted so that it will extend down into the groove a sufficient distance to engage the splints as they pass under the said presser wheel and to press them with an elastic pressure down against the surface of the grinding wheel. Preferably, these presser wheels are made of elastic rubber or some other resilient substance. They are driven in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the grinding wheel and may be driven by proper gear connections with the gear In the construction shown in the drawings, the shaft 45 is journaled in a bracket 46 and carries at its inner end a bevel gear 47 which meshes with a bevel gear 48 mounted on the shaft 49, the lower end of said shaft 49 carrying a spur gear wheel 50 which engages with the gear wheel 43.

The presser wheels 44 are adjustable ver tically so as toincrease or diminish the. pres- Jan i sure upon the splints as required. This adjustment is accomplished by, making the bracket 46 vertically adjustable on the supnected, said supporting bracket 57 being provided with a. vertical elongated slotv59 and Lthebracket 46 being connected with said support 57 by a screw 58which passes through the elongated slot and the bracket 46,-the screwhaving a clamping-flange by which the two brackets are securely clamped Byraisor lowering the bracket 46, the presselr together Whenthe screw is set up. ing wheel 44 willberaised or lowered as well as the shaft 45, carryingwith them the bevel gear 47. The shaft 49 with its wheels 48 and 50 will also be ing the bracket 46 when the flanged screw 58 is loosened are shown in Fig. The

means provided are as follows:-A worm screw 60 has a smooth portion 61 which passes loosely through an aperture in an arm 62 which projects from the frame 57, the threaded portion of thescrew working within a tappedout hole 63 in the bracket 46. The worm screw is provided with col lars 64-435 just above and just below the arm 62 respectively so that when the said worni screw is rotated it will raise orlower I the bracket 46 accordlng to the direction of rotation while the worm screw neither rises nor falls. Sald worm is provided Wli'llilwheel handle 66 at its upper end bywhich it may be conveniently rotated.

in order that the sphnts may from pimping out of the pockets after they pass beneath the doctor roll 37 and until after they have passed beyond the presscr w me]. there are provided the parallel guard ra ls which follow the curved line of the groovesBB and in the splintcarrier and extend downintothe grooves a suilicient dis to prevent the splints from umping-R 3 out but not suihcient to form any frictional ta nee engagement with the carrier Preferably, there are provided twootthe presser wheels 44 snnllarly mounted, one hein located 1n ,os1t1on to en a 'e' the splints just beyond the point whereuthey wheel,

the grinding wheel rotates very much i than the presser wheel,'eachspl1nt or less tumbling or rotation of the splints while they llie loosely inthe pockets by raised and lowered aca be kept ed to hold a single of has iDllS on the sutle facc ofthe abrading wheel, the carrier JIIOVID}! the splints in a pass out from beneath the first presser wheel. a it lrl be rotated quite a number of times ,reasonof the fact that the grinding wheel wmoves at a considerably faster speed than the carrier and in the opposite direction porting bracket 57 with which it is con? thereto, but this willbe slight and i is inmiaterial. a

At some point beyond the point at which the pockets. One means of discharging or withilrsnvi'ng them froin the pockets is to be discharged from 1 provide a1 suction device 52 which isynot shown in. detail, but any well-known form of suction device may be employed. The portion 52 shown in the drawing is merely a rep device.

A: modified form of extract-or is shown in l igyii in which the extractor consists ofa rotary wheel 53 havingin its periphery a series of needles or pricks 54, spaced apart from each. other on the periphery equal to the distance between thesuccessive splints *sentation. of the mouth of the suction in the successive pockets. The said extractor wheel should be made to'rotate at the same rate of speed as the splint carrier so that one of the needles will bebrought into position to engage one of the splintsas fastas the splints are fed. Thescneedles will catch. the

splint and hold it long enough to lift it out of the carrion and in the further rotation of the extractor wheel the splint will he onpaged by affinger which will disengage the splint from the needle and cause it to carrier ring;mountedimmediately above and coaxial with said abradinp, wheel, said. can rier ring beingAfornied with radially lisposed splint-receiving pockets, each adaptlint Ilyinp; lengthwi so circular path concentricwith theabrading wheel in a plane at rightangles to its axis, and a rotary presser wheel whose periphery engages each splint in its pocket at a certain point in the travel of the splint and rotates the splint on its axis and at the same time positively holdsitin contact with the abrading wheel a it a 1 a 2. A Inachine for roundingsplints having a rotary wheel formed with an aliradinp; surface on one side thereof and mounted to rotatein ahorizontal plane, a rotary carrierring iniiuinted immediately above and co-axially with said abrading wheel, said :carrier ring being formed with radially posed spl ntq'eceiving slots each adapted to receive a single splint lying on thesurface i of the abrading wheel, and means for rotating the splint on its axis and at the same time positively holding it in contact with the abrading wheel, the partitions between the slots being formed with transverse grooves, means for feeding splints to the carrier at a station prior to the point where the splints pass under the mechanism for rotating them rotary grinding wheel 7 with an abrading surface on one of its side faces, a rotary annular splint carrler co-axial with the grinding face of said grmdmg wheel and lying in close proximity thereto, said splints carrier being formed with radial pockets thereinop'en at the top and bottom within which, the splints may lie in contact with the face of the grinding wheel, means for rotating both the splint carrier and the grinding wheel, the partitions between the v grinding wheel, and a doctor located above pockets being formed with a plurality of annular grooves which extend transversely through thefpartitions between the pockets, a rfeed chute for the splints located above the path ,of travel of the splint carrier, and having an apron formed with splint supporting fingers which extend down into said.

grooves in the carrier to temporarily support the splmts above the surface of the the s'aidfingers in sufficient proximity there "to to clear out of the pocket any surplus splints over the single splint which the pocket is'intended to hold. v

4. A splint'rounding machine having a rotary grinding wheel with an abrading surfaceon one'of its sidefaces, a rotary annular splint carrier co-axial with the grinding face of said. grinding wheel and lying in close proximity thereto. said splint carrier being formed with radial pockets therein open at the top and bottom, within which the splints may lie in contact with the face of thegrinding wheel, means for rotating both the splint carrier and the grinding wheel, the partitions between the pockets being formed with a plurality of.

annular grooves which extend transversely through the partitions between the pockets, a feed chute for the splints located above the path of'travel of the splint carrier, and having an apron formed with the splint I supporting fingers which extend down into said ,grooves in the'carrier to temporarily support thesplmts somewhat above the surface of the grindmg wheel, a doctor located above the said fingers insufficient proximity thereto to clear out of the pocket any surplus splints over the single splint which the pocket is intended to hold, and a rotary presser roll which extends down into one of the intermediate grooves in the carrier and engages each splint as it passes under the roll and presses it into engagement with the grinding surface.

5. A splint rounding machine having a rotary grinding wheel. mounted on a vertical axis and having an abrading surface on its upper side face, a rotary annular splint carrier co-axial with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and lying in close proximity thereto above the same, said splint carrier being formed with radial pockets therein open at the top and bottom within which the splint may lie in contact with the face'of the grinding wheel and may be moved thereby over the surface of the grinding wheel, said splint carrier being formed with an annular groove which extends transversely through the partitions between the pockets, a rotary presser wheel mounted above the splint carrier whose periphery extends down into said groove and engages each one of the splints as it passes beneath said presser roll, thereby rotating the splint on its axis while it is engaged by the grinding surface.

6. A splint rounding machine having a rotary grinding wheel mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis and having an abrading surface on its upper side face, a rotary annular splint carrier co-axial with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and lying in close proximity thereto above the same, said splint carrier being formed with radial pockets therein open at the top and bottom, within which the splint may lie in contact with the face of the grinding wheel and may be moved thereby over the surface of the grinding wheel, said splint carrier being formed with three concentric annular grooves which extend transversely through the partitions between the pockets, means for delivering the splints onto the said carrier. means for clearing out of each pocket all but a single splint, guards which extend down into the outer and inner annular groove for some distance beyond the point at which the splints are received. and extend crosswise of the splints near their outer ends, a rotary presser roll whose periphery extends down into the intermediate annular groove and engages with each splint as it passes under it. and means for rotating said presser roll thereby causing the splint to rotate on its axis.

7. A splint rounding machine having a rotary grinding wheel mounted on a vertical axis and having an abrading surface on its uppenhorizontal side, a rotary annular splint carrier co-axial with the grinding wheel, means for rotating both the splint carrier and the grinding wheel, the splint carrier being formed WVlilll part1t1ons between the pockets and being formed with an annular groove which extendstransversely through thepartitions between the pockets,

ii it and a rotary presser roll which extends downinto said groove and engages each splint as it passes under the roll and presses it into engagement with the grinding surface.

8. A splint rounding machine having a rotary grinding wheel mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis and having an abrading surface on its upper side face, a rotary annular splint carriercoaxial with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and lying in close proximity thereto above the same, said splint carrier being formed with pockets therein within which the splints may lie in contact with the face of the grinding wheel, the partitions be tween said pockets being formed with annular grooves which extend transversely through said partitions, means for delivering splints into said pockets, and guards which extend into said grooves in the direction of the travel of the carrier for some distance beyond the point at which the ner that the splint lies lengthwise on the abrading surface of the grinding wheel, a rotary presser wheel locatedabove the path of the splint in position to engage the splint when the splint passes beneath the presser wheel, means for rotating the splint carrier and presser wheel, means whereby the rotation of the splint carrier controls the rota tion of the presser wheel, and independent means for rotating the grinding wheel.

10. A machine for rounding splints having rotary grinding wheel, a rotary splint carrier adapted to hold splints in spaced relation on the grinding surface of the grinding wheel, a rotary presser wheel mounted on a stationary axis and having a periphery which engages each splint as it passes beneath the presser wheel, means for rotating the splint carrier and the presser wheel, means whereby. the. rotation of the splint carrier controls the rotation of the presser wheel, and independent means for rotating the grinding wheel.

11. A machine for rounding splints havmg a rotary grinding wheel which rotates in ahorizontalplane, a vertical shaft on which said grindingwheel is mounted, a shell having a hub through which said shaft loosely:

passes, said shell having an upwardly extending annular flange which loosely surrounds the periphery of said grinding wheel,

an annular splint carrying wheel secured to said flange and extending over the upper face of said grinding wheel, said spllnt carrier being formed with slots to recelve the splints, each slot being open so that the splints as they lie in the slots will rest on the surface of the grinding wheel, and means for independently rotating said grinding wheel shaft and the shell which carries the splint carrier.

12. A machine for rounding splints hav- .ing a rotary grinding wheel which rotates in a horizontal plane, vertical shaft on which said grinding wheel is mounted, a shell having a hub through which said shaft loosely passes, said shell having an upwardly extending annular flange which loosely surrounds the periphery of said grinchng wheel, an annular splint carrying wheel secured to said flange and extending over the upper face of said grinding wheel, said splint carrier being formed with slots to receive the splints, each slot being open so that'the splints as they lie in the slots will rest on the surface of the grinding wheel, a rotary presser wheel which is mounted to engage with each one of the splints at a certain point in the rotation of the splint carrier, means for rotating the grinding wheel, and means for rotating said splint carrier and presser wheel.

13. A machine for rounding splints, having a rotary grinding wheel, a rotary shell on which a splint carrier is mounted co-axial with said grinding wheel, the splint carrier extending over the top of the grinding wheel and being formed. with slots within which the splints are held, said slots being open at the bottom so that the splints will engage with the surface of the grinding wheel, a rotary presser wheel located above the splint carrier in position for the said presser wheel toengage with each one of the splints at a certain point in the travel of the splint during the rotation of the splint carrier, means for rotating the mount for the splint carrier, means whereby the rotation of the splint carrier mount actuates the presser wheel, and means for vertically adjusting the presser wheel.

14:. A machine for rounding splints having a rotary grinding wheel, a rotaryshell on which a splint carrier is mounted co-axial with saidgrinding wheel, the splint carrier extending over the top of the grinding wheel and being formed with slots within which the splints are held, said slots being open at the bottom so that the splints will engage with the surface of the grinding wheel, a rotary presser wheel located above the splint carrier in position for the said Presser wheel to engage with each one of the splints at a certain point in the travel of the splint during the rotation of the splint carrier, said shel lon which the splint carrier is mounted having peripheral gear teeth, means for r0- tating said shell, a vertically adjustable bracket having journaled therein a shaft on which said presser wheel is mounted, and a second shaft mounted in said bracket having gear connection with said shell and also having gear connection with the presser wheel shaft, said bracket being vertically adjustable to vary the elevation of the presser wheel.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIS W. TAINTER. 

